Supervisory Microbiologist

About the role

This position is located at United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Services (ARS), The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), located in Manhattan, Kansas.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Biosafety Officer and provides day-to-day supervision of staff involved in issues of biosafety and biosecurity.
• Ensures all employees receive relevant and required initial, annual, and site-specific biosafety/biosecurity training.
• Develops, evaluates, and implements comprehensive biosafety, biocontainment, and biosecurity programs, incorporating Federal, State and local regulations, departmental policies, agency programs and policies.
• Keeps current on new developments, trends and methods involving biosafety and biocontainment as well as information involving veterinary microbiology and/or infectious diseases.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert on biorisk issues, providing counsel/advice concerning the execution of policies/functions, and ensuring compliance with relevant statutory, policy requirements governing both biosafety and biocontainment programs.
• Serves as a recognized expert in the field of biosafety, providing consultation and advice to international, Federal, State and local agencies, as well as professional organizations such as the ABSA International.
• Participates in the development and maintenance of an NBAF specific Biological Safety Manual and associated policies and procedures that provide guidance, policies and protocols for the NBAF Biosafety Program.

Requirements

Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.

Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.

Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement in the Education Section below, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements:

• Specialized experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is the experience implementing a biocontainment, or biosecurity program; performing risk assessments and laboratory inspections at different biocontainment levels; moving biological agents to lower containment levels; providing advice regarding appropriate biocontainment levels and applicable regulatory guidelines; and serving or supporting the Biosafety officer related to biosafety issues.